The LDI builds on the foundational work that IPCI, OIA NCI, DPWMF, IPM and others have done around the world to increase palliative care capacity. Emerging palliative care leaders are identified who are motivated and positioned to take advantage of this structured skill-building initiative. The Initiative team anticipates that the physicians who participate in the LDI will become the next generation of national, regional and global palliative care leaders.

At each course, the participants, their mentors, the LDI team and invited faculty will gather to support leadership skill acquisition and development, particularly to augment understanding of what it means to be a global leader. There are several unique strengths of the course: personalized attention and guidance from the Regional Mentors, outstanding invited faculty, support of the LDI team members, peer engagement and networking and intensive focus on an evolving and more elaborate leadership role for the participant.

As each participant comes to the LDI with different skills, experiences and goals, they will collaborate with their mentor, peers and members of the LDI Team to identify short and long-term activities which will extend their leadership skills and influence. To build depth and complexity into the process, each participant will complete a personal leadership skills assessment and analyze the situation in their own organization, region and country. Well utilized, the IDP will serve as a powerful document to guide leadership activities during the Initiative, and well beyond.

Participants will be asked to highlight leadership opportunities, to practice their leadership skills and to avail themselves of a number of educational opportunities and resources offered by the LDI team and faculty. Ultimately, throughout the time they are involved in the LDI, participants will have the opportunity to develop significant initiatives within their organizations, region, and nation and be empowered to step into global leadership.

Mentorship is one of the most powerful tools for professional and academic success, and is a unique feature of the Initiative. Participants and mentors will 'meet' at least every 3 months to review the past quarter's activities and to look forward to the next quarter's plans. Together, they will ensure the participant stays 'on track' with their established goals.

In addition to being a resource to the participants and mentors, on-going activities and their outcomes will be closely monitored and nuanced to meet the needs of the emerging palliative care leaders.

From the outset, the evolving syllabus and resources will be available to participants and mentors at a private website. As these curricular materials and resources are ready for public consumption, they will be moved to a public open access website. All participants, mentors and faculty will be encouraged to contribute to the development of these unique resources. Resources that already exist on the internet will be collected and 'linked-to' through IPM's International Palliative Care Resource Center, IPCRC.net

The participants will journal their discoveries and developments that transpire during the Initiative in a private LDI workspace. Reflective assignments, participation in prepared educational materials, a moderated discussion group and accumulation of professional resources will serve as the basis for each participant's final Leadership Development Project (see below). In so far that communication between the participants and mentors is a high value in the LDI community, the LDI team anticipates that participants and mentors will use internet-based communication tools like e-mail and Skype to keep in close contact.

These funds may be used to compensate salary while they are attending the course or to defray costs related to accomplishing the educational goals detailed in their Individual Development Plan (IDP), e.g., this might include travel costs to visit their mentor, support for a mentor to visit the participants home facility, or engaging in other individual skill building activities chosen for their potential contribution to the participant's development plan. All plans and expenditures will need to be preapproved by the LDI team. These stipends will be used to pay for communication with the participant's mentor.

Download the LDI Use of the Financial Stipend Guidelines (PDF .4 MB)

Each regional mentor will also receive an honorarium from IPM for her/his role as a regional mentor.

Formal evaluations will be sought during residential courses, semi-annually, and annually. As this is a pilot project, it will be critical to evaluate and document activities, capture experiences, rate effectiveness and provide feedback to strengthen all aspects of the Initiative.

The LDI team anticipates that the stories will serve as models for many others who aspire to be leaders in palliative care, or other healthcare disciplines.